Patents by Inventor Hiromasa OHASHI

Hiromasa OHASHI has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11676617
    Abstract: An acoustic noise suppressing apparatus includes a sound pickup circuit, a first and second suppression circuits, and an output signal selection circuit. The sound pickup circuit picks up sound. The first suppression circuit processes the sound, in which the first suppression circuit is configured to calculate a first suppression sound signal in which acoustic noise is suppressed from the sound by using a first algorithm suitable for multiple sound sources. The second suppression circuit processes the audio signal in parallel with the first suppression circuit, in which the second suppression circuit is configured to calculate a second suppression sound signal in which acoustic noise is suppressed from the sound signal by using a second algorithm suitable for a single sound source. The output signal selection circuit outputs only one of the first suppression audio signal and the second suppression audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masanari Miyamoto, Naoya Tanaka, Hiromasa Ohashi
  • Publication number: 20230037195
    Abstract: A control device controls sound of a plurality of speakers. The control device includes: a generation unit acquiring image data and generates display image data from the image data by using conversion processing using shape information indicating a shape of a display surface; a display controller displaying a display image on the display surface by using the display image data; a receiver causing a cursor to be superimposed and displayed on the display image and receives position designation related to the plurality of speakers on the display image from a user who has visually recognized the cursor; and an identification unit calculating a position of the cursor from the position designation by referring to a correspondence relationship between the image data before the conversion processing and the display image data after the conversion processing, and identifying the position of the cursor as a position related to the plurality of speakers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Applicant: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiromasa OHASHI, Naoya TANAKA, Ryo HIROTA
  • Publication number: 20220415337
    Abstract: An acoustic crosstalk suppression device includes a speaker estimation unit configured to estimate a main speaker based on voice signals collected by n units of microphones corresponding to n number of persons (n: an integer equal to or larger than 3); n units of filter update units each of which is configured to update a parameter of a filter configured to generate a suppression signal of a crosstalk component included in a voice signal of the main speaker; and a crosstalk suppression unit configured to suppress the crosstalk component by using a synthesis suppression signal generated by the maximum (n-1) units of filter update units corresponding to reference signals collected by the maximum (n-1) units of microphones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Applicant: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masanari MIYAMOTO, Naoya TANAKA, Hiromasa OHASHI
  • Patent number: 11483652
    Abstract: A conversation support device includes: a speaker; a microphone; a noise source acquisition unit that acquires a noise signal indicating noise; a first calculator that calculates a transfer characteristic of a secondary path between the speaker and the microphone; an echo cancellation unit that cancels an echo by using the transfer characteristic of the secondary path; a second calculator that calculates a coefficient of an adaptive filter, based on the transfer characteristic of the secondary path and the noise signal; and an active noise cancellation controller that generates a noise cancelling signal by using the coefficient of the adaptive filter and the noise signal. The noise cancelling signal is for controlling cancellation of the noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiromasa Ohashi
  • Publication number: 20220322005
    Abstract: An audio feedback detection apparatus including: a first audio signal input unit configured to acquire a first audio signal collected by a microphone; a second audio signal input unit configured to acquire a second audio signal from an audio communication application to be output to a speaker; and an audio feedback determination unit configured to determine whether an audio feedback is present based on a correlation between a frequency characteristic of the first audio signal input to the audio communication application and a frequency characteristic of the second audio signal input to the speaker. One of the microphone and the speaker is located on a path in which the audio feedback occurs, and the other of the microphone and the speaker is located on a path in which the audio feedback does not occur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Takayama, Hiromasa Ohashi
  • Publication number: 20210407528
    Abstract: An acoustic noise suppressing apparatus includes a sound pickup circuit, a first and second suppression circuits, and an output signal selection circuit. The sound pickup circuit picks up sound. The first suppression circuit processes the sound, in which the first suppression circuit is configured to calculate a first suppression sound signal in which acoustic noise is suppressed from the sound by using a first algorithm suitable for multiple sound sources. The second suppression circuit processes the audio signal in parallel with the first suppression circuit, in which the second suppression circuit is configured to calculate a second suppression sound signal in which acoustic noise is suppressed from the sound signal by using a second algorithm suitable for a single sound source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Applicant: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masanari Miyamoto, Naoya Tanaka, Hiromasa Ohashi
  • Patent number: 11152010
    Abstract: An acoustic noise suppressing apparatus outputs a first suppression audio signal in which the acoustic noise is suppressed by subtracting a first pseudo noise signal from the picked up audio signal, the first pseudo noise signal being generated based on a first delay signal and a first filter updated by a first algorithm which is valid when a plurality of talkers are talking, and outputs a second suppression audio signal in which the acoustic noise is suppressed by subtracting a second pseudo noise signal from the picked up audio signal, the second pseudo noise signal being generated based on a second delay signal and a second filter updated by a second algorithm which is valid when one talker is talking. The apparatus outputs a suppressed one of the first suppressed audio signal or the second suppressed audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masanari Miyamoto, Naoya Tanaka, Hiromasa Ohashi
  • Patent number: 11089404
    Abstract: A sound processing apparatus includes n number of microphones that are disposed correspondingly to n number of persons and that mainly collect sound signals uttered by respective relevant persons, a filter that suppresses crosstalk components included in a talker sound signal collected by a microphone corresponding to at least one talker using the sound signals collected by the n number of microphones, a parameter updater that updates a parameter of the filter for suppressing the crosstalk components and stores an update result in the memory in a case where a predetermined condition including time at which at least one talker talks is satisfied, and a sound output controller that outputs the sound signals, acquired by subtracting the crosstalk components by the filter from the talker sound signals based on the update result, from a speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masanari Miyamoto, Hiromasa Ohashi, Naoya Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20210006900
    Abstract: A conversation support device includes: a speaker; a microphone; a noise source acquisition unit that acquires a noise signal indicating noise; a first calculator that calculates a transfer characteristic of a secondary path between the speaker and the microphone; an echo cancellation unit that cancels an echo by using the transfer characteristic of the secondary path; a second calculator that calculates a coefficient of an adaptive filter, based on the transfer characteristic of the secondary path and the noise signal; and an active noise cancellation controller that generates a noise cancelling signal by using the coefficient of the adaptive filter and the noise signal. The noise cancelling signal is for controlling cancellation of the noise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventor: Hiromasa OHASHI
  • Publication number: 20200321017
    Abstract: An acoustic noise suppressing apparatus outputs a first suppression audio signal in which the acoustic noise is suppressed by subtracting a first pseudo noise signal from the picked up audio signal, the first pseudo noise signal being generated based on a first delay signal and a first filter updated by a first algorithm which is valid when a plurality of talkers are talking, and outputs a second suppression audio signal in which the acoustic noise is suppressed by subtracting a second pseudo noise signal from the picked up audio signal, the second pseudo noise signal being generated based on a second delay signal and a second filter updated by a second algorithm which is valid when one talker is talking. The apparatus outputs a suppressed one of the first suppressed audio signal or the second suppressed audio signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Applicant: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masanari MIYAMOTO, Naoya TANAKA, Hiromasa OHASHI
  • Patent number: 10798247
    Abstract: A microphone picks-up voice of a driver. A first echo suppression unit outputs a voice signal after first echo suppression based on a voice signal of the driver and a voice signal after echo suppression in the past (first reference signal) stored in a buffer memory. A second echo suppression unit outputs a voice signal after second echo suppression based on a voice signal of the driver and a voice signal after the echo suppression in the past (second reference signal) stored in a buffer memory. An output signal selector selects one of the voice signals after the first echo suppression or the voice signal after the second echo suppression according to a detection result of the presence or absence of a system variation by a system variation detector, and causes a speaker to output the selected voice signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masanari Miyamoto, Hiromasa Ohashi, Naoya Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20200245066
    Abstract: A sound processing apparatus includes n number of microphones that are disposed correspondingly to n number of persons and that mainly collect sound signals uttered by respective relevant persons, a filter that suppresses crosstalk components included in a talker sound signal collected by a microphone corresponding to at least one talker using the sound signals collected by the n number of microphones, a parameter updater that updates a parameter of the filter for suppressing the crosstalk components and stores an update result in the memory in a case where a predetermined condition including time at which at least one talker talks is satisfied, and a sound output controller that outputs the sound signals, acquired by subtracting the crosstalk components by the filter from the talker sound signals based on the update result, from a speaker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Applicant: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masanari MIYAMOTO, Hiromasa OHASHI, Naoya TANAKA
  • Patent number: 10542154
    Abstract: A two-way conversation assisting device includes a first microphone that enters a first voice, a first loudspeaker that outputs the first voice, a second microphone that enters a second voice, a second loudspeaker that outputs the second voice, and a first echo and crosstalk canceller. The first echo and crosstalk canceller estimates and calculates, using an input signal into the second loudspeaker, a first interference signal indicative of degrees of a first echo caused when the second voice output from the second loudspeaker enters into the first microphone and first crosstalk caused when the second voice enters into the first microphone, and removes the calculated first interference signal from an output signal of the first microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryoji Suzuki, Hiromasa Ohashi, Naoya Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20200007690
    Abstract: A microphone picks-up voice of a driver. A first echo suppression unit outputs a voice signal after first echo suppression based on a voice signal of the driver and a voice signal after echo suppression in the past (first reference signal) stored in a buffer memory. A second echo suppression unit outputs a voice signal after second echo suppression based on a voice signal of the driver and a voice signal after the echo suppression in the past (second reference signal) stored in a buffer memory. An output signal selector selects one of the voice signals after the first echo suppression or the voice signal after the second echo suppression according to a detection result of the presence or absence of a system variation by a system variation detector, and causes a speaker to output the selected voice signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Applicant: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masanari MIYAMOTO, Hiromasa OHASHI, Naoya TANAKA
  • Patent number: 10290312
    Abstract: A sound source separation device includes a first microphone that picks up a first voice, a second microphone that picks up a second voice, a first crosstalk canceller that removes, from a voice signal of the first microphone, first crosstalk caused when the second voice is picked up by the first microphone, and a second crosstalk canceller that removes, from a voice signal of the second microphone, second crosstalk caused when the first voice is picked up by the second microphone. The first crosstalk canceller uses a voice signal in which the second crosstalk is removed from the voice signal of the second microphone to estimate and calculate a first interference signal indicative of a degree of the first crosstalk, and to remove the calculated first interference signal from the voice signal of the first microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryoji Suzuki, Hiromasa Ohashi, Naoya Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20180158467
    Abstract: A sound source separation device includes a first microphone that picks up a first voice, a second microphone that picks up a second voice, a first crosstalk canceller that removes, from a voice signal of the first microphone, first crosstalk caused when the second voice is picked up by the first microphone, and a second crosstalk canceller that removes, from a voice signal of the second microphone, second crosstalk caused when the first voice is picked up by the second microphone. The first crosstalk canceller uses a voice signal in which the second crosstalk is removed from the voice signal of the second microphone to estimate and calculate a first interference signal indicative of a degree of the first crosstalk, and to remove the calculated first interference signal from the voice signal of the first microphone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: RYOJI SUZUKI, HIROMASA OHASHI, NAOYA TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20180115650
    Abstract: A two-way conversation assisting device includes a first microphone that enters a first voice, a first loudspeaker that outputs the first voice, a second microphone that enters a second voice, a second loudspeaker that outputs the second voice, and a first echo and crosstalk canceller. The first echo and crosstalk canceller estimates and calculates, using an input signal into the second loudspeaker, a first interference signal indicative of degrees of a first echo caused when the second voice output from the second loudspeaker enters into the first microphone and first crosstalk caused when the second voice enters into the first microphone, and removes the calculated first interference signal from an output signal of the first microphone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: RYOJI SUZUKI, HIROMASA OHASHI, NAOYA TANAKA
  • Patent number: 9848261
    Abstract: A howling removing apparatus according to the present disclosure is a howling removing apparatus to be connected to a microphone and a speaker. The howling removing apparatus includes: a nonlinear converter that nonlinearly converts a sound signal input to the speaker and outputs a nonlinear signal; a delay unit that delays the sound signal by a fixed time and outputs a delay signal; a norm calculator that calculates a norm from the delay signal; a filter coefficient generator that, based on the nonlinear signal, the delay signal and the norm, generates an adaptive filter that simulates a transfer characteristic of a space where the sound signal is reproduced from the speaker and is returned to the microphone; a cancel signal generator that convolves the delay signal and the adaptive filter with each other and generates a cancel signal; and a subtracter that subtracts the cancel signal from the sound signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junji Araki, Hiromasa Ohashi, Naoya Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20170223454
    Abstract: A howling removing apparatus according to the present disclosure is a howling removing apparatus to be connected to a microphone and a speaker. The howling removing apparatus includes: a nonlinear converter that nonlinearly converts a sound signal input to the speaker and outputs a nonlinear signal; a delay unit that delays the sound signal by a fixed time and outputs a delay signal; a norm calculator that calculates a norm from the delay signal; a filter coefficient generator that, based on the nonlinear signal, the delay signal and the norm, generates an adaptive filter that simulates a transfer characteristic of a space where the sound signal is reproduced from the speaker and is returned to the microphone; a cancel signal generator that convolves the delay signal and the adaptive filter with each other and generates a cancel signal; and a subtracter that subtracts the cancel signal from the sound signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Junji ARAKI, Hiromasa OHASHI, Naoya TANAKA